ALEXANDRIA, Va., (Feb. 16, 2020)—National PTA and PTAs nationwide will celebrate Take Your Family to School Week Feb. 14-21 to reinforce the association’s long legacy of supporting student success through family engagement. The timing of the week honors the day PTA was founded, Feb. 17, 1897.

“For over 120 years, PTA has been encouraging families to get more involved in their child’s education as family engagement is proven to increase student achievement, improve attendance, reduce the dropout rate, support the emotional and physical well-being of children, and result in higher graduation rates,” said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. “PTA’s role in connecting families, teachers and schools; strengthening partnerships between families, teachers and administrators; and supporting student success is more important than ever as we navigate the ongoing pandemic.”

Take Your Family to School Week is designed to provide families with opportunities to engage together in activities that support children’s education, health, safety, well-being and long-term success. Throughout the week, PTAs across the country will host virtual events for families in their school communities using National PTA’s new PTA Programs at Home models.

National PTA’s PTA Programs at Home models offer engaging, educational and fun activities for all students and their families—with or without access to technology. The models include Real-Time, At Your Own Pace and Tech-Free. National PTA awarded over $160,000 in grants to PTAs across the country to host the programs during this school year using these models.

“National PTA developed its PTA Programs at Home models to provide all PTAs the opportunity to offer programming in new, exciting formats that increase accessibility for families—regardless of whether their school community is learning from home, in the school building or in a hybrid model,” said Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA Executive Director. “National PTA’s programs are part of our association’s long-standing efforts to make a difference in the education, health, safety, well-being and long-term success of every child through family education and engagement. During Take Your Family to School Week and all year round, National PTA and PTAs nationwide remain committed to helping all children realize their full potential.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.